An Orange County Superior Court judge this week found that Orange County Board of Education member Marilyn “Mari” Barke failed to report millions of dollars in assets and income in her annual economic disclosure filings over multiple years.
Barke will have to pay nearly $82,000 in penalties, as well as attorneys’ fees, according to a proposed decision statement. The fees could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What’s next?
State court rules allow parties 15 days to file objections to the proposed decision. After that, the court will be able to enter a final judgment.
About the case
Barke was elected to the OC Board of Education in 2018, and she currently serves as a board trustee. She is also the director of coalitions at the California Policy Center, an educational non-profit.
Under the California Political Reform Act, local elected officials are required to disclose their income, investments and other assets…